Centre contemplating nationwide ban on illegal sand mining: G K Vasan

CHENNAI: The Union Government is contemplating banning illegal sand mining across the country on the model of Tamil Nadu, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan said here today.

"The Centre is planning to ban illegal (sand) mining across the country", he told reporters here and welcomed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's decision to order a probe into illegal mining in 71 large mineral quarries in Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Madurai and Tiruchirapalli districts.

To a query on the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project, Vasan said the Centre is in favour of expediting the project.

Recently, the Centre has brushed aside the objections of Tamil Nadu against the Rs 25,000 crore project by informing the Supreme Court about its intention to go ahead with the project.